Wood: coming or going?

Well everyone knows I prefer wood. OK...now that I got that outta my system....

The reason so many wood coasters were built in the late 90s/early 2000s can be summed up in one word: CCI. Custom Coasters made wood coasters affordable to parks that previously didn't think they had the means to build one. Notice how many parks returned to CCI for their second or even third woodie after getting their first? Parks such as Holiday World, Big Chiefs, Silverwood, Indiana Beach. Why? Because they were inexpensive - something which ironically was one of the factors that lead to the company's downfall.

Think of it this way: if your favorite clothing store is having fantastic sale on shirts and you buy a dozen you won't have a need for more new shirts as often if you had only purchased one.

Wood is not going or even gone. The market is just rebounding from so many being built over the past few years.

Moosh

-----------------
Welcome to the New & Improved Coasterbuzz...tomfoolery allowed!

Bill: can even *you* really say that? Sure, there may be one or two woodies that stand out to you as being better than them all. But that is a matter of that particular coaster providing a very specific ride. What it almost seems like you are implying is that *no* steel coaster can match up with a woodie that is "well built and maintained properly". However, I can consult two coasters in you *own* track record which disproves this theory, S:ROS and Wild One @ SFA. Wild One is a finely crafted and meticuously cared for woodie, but I doubt that you would say that it provides any thrill that is "unavailable" on S:ROS.

Personally, I think Raven is one of the best built and cared for woodies around, still doesnt keep me from thinking that Montu is more thrilling though ;)

lata, jeremy

Well, perhaps I am a bit *jaded*, you might say....but give me even Roar! (which to my knowledge has not yet been *neutered* in the name of maintenance like Wild One), and I'd stack it up against virtually any Beemer I've got....I remember very clearly the days when Gwazi was brand new, and I'd ride that sucker most of the day, sneaking in a FEW laps on the park's steel selection.

Now, if you're gonna go OUT on the limb and say S:RoS, then decidedly I'm going to have to stack up a SERIOUS wooden coaster like Cornball....they are for me, *about equals*...and if you've been playing at home....yes, S:RoS is THAT good...we're talking some SICK rides here though.

jeremy, you have HP....are you gonna tell me that either of those awesome GCI coasters don't stack up WELL against the parks steel selection....I *hope* not....

or as some buzzer had as a sig...."WOOD: it does a body good"...:)

But see, that's my point, you *can* point to steel and wooden coaster that are about equal. Maybe you believe that the BEST wooden coaster is better than all steel coasters (I personally hold this postion with The Legend), but is that *simply* because it is wood? Not *all* wooden coasters hold an innate advantage over their steel brethren. There can be great coasters wood or steel, shuttle or full circuit. My personal 20 or so favorites are a nice blend of them all. But I hold no special regard for any of them simply because they are wood (but hell, I like Hercules so what do I know...)

lata, jeremy

--who rather ride Mr. Freeze and Phantom's Revenge than about 80% of the woodies he'd ridden

The point of a wooden coaster is not to thrill you with an amazing display of moden technology and engineering, but to simply provide that enjoyable, yet frightening expirence. Son of Beast took a leap to try and fuse steel and wood when the was no need, nor want, to do this. The wooden coaster has its own characteristics that do not mix with that of steel. They are like two different species and species, after all, do not mate out of their own species. Sure the metal has the awe of technology, but wood has its incredible nastalgia that is missing from many theme parks today.

As for the future of wood, I see it getting smoother and more twisted while keeping its airtime.

-----------------
If you can't beat your computer at chess, try kickboxing.

Being here in the Detroit region where all people know about coasters is CP, the wooden coaster is very gloomy. Everybody hates wooden rides because they asscociate them with Mean Streak and how they "snap my neck". Next, you can go to PKI and see that wood is a much more popular choice with two established classics and SOB (which people DO line up for, I might add). I don't think that wooden coasters do not carry as much popularity as steel coasters, it all comes down to whether or not a park has a well-built machine. Holiday World and Michigan's Adventure (to name a few) are making their living off of wooden coasters, so don't tell me the GP flocks to a park to ride "that big loopie steel thing".

Bottom line: If a coaster is fun people will come back to ride it, steel or wood.

Craig -"I refuse to believe that everyone else refuses to believe.....the truth!" -Lisa Simpson

Wood coasters are cheaper because they grow on trees. They are also living things (granted it is assisted living from day one) constantly replacing parts as they wear out, at least the good ones do. Just like people they change as they age and like people some improve, some don't and some turn evil and wicked, which can be good or bad in a coaster. Some of them should be around forever though they may no longer possess an original part.

Steel is something that is recyclable, when it gets too old it is time to 'taer' it down, crush it, melt it and make something NEW and IMPROVED out of it. None of this applies to Intamin Hypers sitting next to a river.